the role of the lukan parables in terms of the purpose of luke's gospel

y examining the role of the Lukan parables in the purpose of Luke’s Gospel, in the hope that
the unique features of the Lukan parables will give us clues as to Luke’s overall purpose.
2. Research Hypothesis and Methodology
My research hypothesis is that the role of the Lukan parables in the purpose of Luke’s Gospel
is that they function as perspectives on the Christian life. To do this, I first propose that Luke
wrote to reassure his readers of the gospel which has already been preached and taught to
them, especially under the detailed discussion of God’s plan. Therefore, in my view, the
purpose of Luke’s Gospel is to confirm the gospel that he sought to convey to his readers by
presenting God’s plan of salvation. Moreover, given the fact that the Christian life is one of
the two pivotal themes of the travel narrative of Luke’s Gospel, and that the Lukan parables’
theological themes converge on the Christian life, I present a unifying motif of the Lukan
Parables as ‘perspectives on the Christian life.’ On these grounds in my research hypothesis, I
question what role the Lukan Parables play in the purpose of Luke’s Gospel. In order to find
an answer to the question, I will proceed as follows:
First of all, it needs to be stated at the outset that I am not attempting a new interpretation
of the parables, nor am I seeking to reinterpret Luke’s purpose. Rather, the contribution that I
seek to make to Lukan research is to fill a void in Lukan parable research by drawing
together some previously unconnected strands of studies.
My first task is to lay a methodological basis for a study of the parables, after having a
look at a history of research of the Lukan parables in chapter 2. Therefore, it will be argued in
chapter 3, that on the basis of current research, the parables must be interpreted within their
gospel contexts, that the parables contain allegory and point to referents beyond the story, and
that the parables may make more than one point.
In chapter 4, I will limit my analysis of the Lukan parables to the Lukan parables in the
Travel Narrative. With these criteria established for a study of the parables, I will embark on
a detailed analysis of the Lukan parables, examining particularly the literary context of the
parable and eliciting the major motifs from each parable. Here, my major goal is to examine
each parable on its own merits, and not to force it into a preconceived framework, taking into
consideration, of course, the modern interpretative trends of each parable.
In chapter 5, I will synthesize my findings, seeking a possible unifying motif. It is to be
expected that the theological themes of the Lukan parables will be in congruence with, and
bolster the themes that are prominent in Luke-Acts. In order to search for a unifying theme of
3